The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-08

Sereny had been'the deepest feelings of his
life. He thought of his sudden and Short
lived preference for Miss Hildreth, and
then Of his bitter punishment in the loss of
SCREWS love. To-day his only sensation
was of Observation-Disclosures as hopeless
and complete as though no human being
were alive but him. Nellie Hildreth's ne
spoken sympathy had given him his only
CLEAN of relief; she was thoughtful, and
one who loved her fellow men, and she
dreaded the effect of his trouble on Notes
character.
The door opened and somebody entered.
Mote did not stir Miss Hildreth looked up
and saw Sereny with basket on her arm
and a clear pink color in her cheeks, sight
as wholesome and sweet as the bright
breezy morning itself. The girls very pres
ence, erect and fresh and smiling, Jared on
the school-mistress painfully; even her
young healthful beauty was out Of harmony
with the dark room, and Notes bowed
figure and her own thoughts.
''Good mornin', Miss Nellie" she said, TAX
ing off her hat and setting the basket on q
convenient chair, 'hows allF'
every well, believe; they are all in the
barn stripping tobacco"
tWell, | amt in no great hurry; l ies'
fetched over the butter Mrs. Barnes was a
astin' fur. Pll go out an tell 'um howdy
fore CO."
She had apparently not noticed Mote, but
now she quietly crossed the room and laid
her hand on his arm. "Is it so bout yo
goin' to Kansas?" she said. There was a
slight tremor in her voice, and she grew a
little paler as she spoke.
Mote neither welcomed nor repulsed the
touch of her fingers; he appeared uncon-
scious of her identity 30, yes, it's so l
reckon he answered drearily. 81 reckon,
to6 faint no differ to nobody.r
II lowed It want sou she said, with
drawing her hand. II mistrusted you'd go
way an not say nothin' to me bout it."
II don't see as harnesses air got any call to
say nothin to Tharps," he answered bitter
ly, "Mote Barnes, specially. Mote, he amt
fit compny for folks as thinks right smart
o. theyselves. Eff was you wouldn't be
cot talkin' to sech as him."
81 tho't maybe" she said, not noticing his
tone, "'at if you was-was in the same min
as you was that day when-when you went
away and didn't come back no more; an eff
you knowed how sorry was bout the way
/ spoke an done, 'at maybe you wouldn't be
so sot on goin' to Kansas "
II wouldn't come 'roun talkin' foolish
ness, eff 1 was you, Sereny, an 1 wouldn't
be a-moclzin' of folks as everybody's BELT
tim noways."
''Mote, don't you b'leve mea" she said,
her lips trembling; ''don't you know AT l
mean what l say! It's what I'm here to
say"
He lifted his head and looked at her with
eager eyes. His face was gray and drawn
with suffering, but already it was flushed
with hope.
"Listen at me-" he said; sis this hero
what you're a-meanin', at you air willin' to
keep comp'ny with man as amt got no
home an no frien's, an his names a dis
grace in his ears; AT you amt shame to
marry sech as him. an take sech name as
his'nl'
She made him no answer but smiled trem-
ulously
''Ef thot you was maxim light o. me-
he said, passionately, I'D ruthA' see you
dead"
"Ef you was to take it that away, jes' as
lieve l was dead" she answered, almost in
audibly.
He withdrew his eyes from her face and
leaned his head on his hand. sit couldn't
hardly be So" he said, slowly, "after the way
YOU SpoAc, all MO d-IoElh you JIG way l uiu
an do, it couldn't hardly come SO at after all
yeu do love me some; it 'ud be too good for
the likes o. me-"
A rain of tears fell from the girls eyes.
l"O, Mote,'' she cried, ''ain't you knowed
it?-n
| The school-mistress never heard the end
| of the sentence; she rose and left the room
| hurriedly, and her eyes, too, were full of
tears. But she guessed it from the sequel.
-NdH3lie Nay0 Fltxbugh in Southern BiVOltac